32 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 



equipment and extent of territory covered, has been in connection 

 with the operations at the Cape Vincent (N. Y.) station. Within 

 the past 3"ear the capacity of the hatchery at that point has been 

 increased approximately 150 per cent without increasing the floor 

 space, this being made possible by the construction of a new and 

 compact type of battery for the glass jars used in the incubation 

 of these eggs. A cut of the battery showing the placing of jars 

 and other details is shown herewith in Figure 1. The scope of the 

 station's field operations has been materially enlarged through close 

 cooperation with the New York Conservation Commission and the 

 Dominion and Provincial fisheries authorities of Canada. At the 

 present time the most prolific field occupied is in the vicinity of the 

 Bay of Quinte, on the Canadian side of Lake Ontario. 



The great need in all branches of fish conservation is effective, 

 stringently enforced protective legislation. Simple, easily under- 

 stood, and easily remembered fishery laws are always desirable, but 

 in the Great Lakes regions the fault probably lies not so much in the 

 character or wording of present laws as in the lax enforcement of 

 legislation now on the statute books. A close season, varying in 

 length to meet local conditions, should be established for all species 

 in the Great Lakes region, and no commercial fishing should be per- 

 mitted until 40 per cent of the fish on the fishing grounds are in 

 spawning condition, this fact to be determined by the use of set nets 

 operated under supervision. The State laws should provide that 

 commercial fishermen operating during the spawning period be re- 

 quired to turn over free of charge to designated agents of the bureau 

 or the State the ripe eggs of all fish taken. In the framing of the 

 laws more stress should be laid upon the legal size of fish than upon 

 the size of the mesh of seines or nets, and a moderate percentage of 

 small fish should be allowed. In connection with this feature of the 

 work the importance of uniform laws governing all persons alike in 

 a given locality is not to be overlooked. In order to bring about the 

 greatest good, such laws must in their application be not only inter- 

 state but international. 



The aggregate output of this group of stations, including the 

 hatchery on Lake Champlain, where pike perch and yellow perch are 

 propagated, amounted in round numbers to approximately 1,158,- 

 000.000 eggs, fry, and fingerlings, as against 886,000,000 in the pre- 

 ceding year. The increase may l)e attributed largely to more favor- 

 able weather conditions prevailing throughout the spawning seasons 

 of the species handled. By way of contrast in climatic conditions as 

 they affect fish culture, the work in the Cirreat Lakes region during 

 the spawning season of 1920 suffered generally from severe cold and 

 violent storms. During the spawning season of 1021, while stormy 

 weather was encountered at certain points, the work was interfered 

 with principally by unseasonably warm weather, resulting in water 

 temperatures too high for the best results in artificial incubation. 



This branch of fish culture has for many years received the hearti- 

 est support of the interests most directly benefited by the work, and 

 that these interests still have faith in the efficacy of artificial propa- 

 gation is evidenced by the many letters received from them, com- 

 mending the work and urging its extension. While the figures given 

 for the output of the Great Lakes represent largely such commercial 



